BOCA RATON, Fla. - New York expatriates gave former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a GOP presidential contender, a warm welcome at a Boca Raton, Fla., synagogue.

Giuliani has focused his campaigning efforts on Florida in hopes of a strong showing there, but is still running a distant third in the polls, the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post reported.

But at the Boca Raton Synagogue Sunday morning, the audience was receptive to his anti-terror, pro-Israel message, the newspaper said. Many were also retirees from New York who had positive memories of his time as mayor.

The support was not limited to Republicans, the Post said. Many of the Democrats and Independents in the audience said they would vote for Giuliani over a Democrat if he received the Republican nomination.